Electric-light-dimming device



Fel. 1o, 1925.

1,525,949 A. PAPINI ELECTRIC LIGHT DIMMING DEVICE Filed May l5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. M7 @M A TTORNE Y.

- Feb. 10, 1925.

1,525.949 A. PAPINI ELECTRIC LIGHT mmm@ DEVICE Filed May 15 1923 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

@M gi/fw JM A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY PAPINI, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT-DIMMING DEVICE.

Application filed May 15,

To ZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY Parini, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Electric-Light- Dinnninp- Devices, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to electric light dimming devices, and it has for one of its objects to provide an improved and novel means whereby the flow of an electric current through a circuit may be controlled so as to vary and control the brightness of au electric light produced thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and novel means for effecting a variation of the resistance 0ifered by a resistance element to the flow of an electric current through a circuit.

A further general object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction, highly efficient in operation, and which may be cheaply and economically manufactured.

To these and other ends my invention comprehends the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described in detail and particularly pointed out in the claims. y

lr.. order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one convenient form of mechanical embodiment thereof. However, it will be understood that changes in the details of construction mav be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the said invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a. device embodying my invention taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. L1;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. a is a transverse sectional view taken ou the line i of Fig. 1:

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a plate for actuating or moving one of the contact elements of the device;

Fig. G is a top plan view of the lower half of the device, certain parts thereof being removed in order that other parts of the construction may be more clearly depicted;

Fig. T is a vertical sectional view taken 1923. Serial No. 639,077.

on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6 showing a detail of construction;

Fig. S is a view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 showing a detail of construction;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taxen on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a stationary member carrying contact elements which are adapted to cooperate with the movable contact element above referred to, which member is situated between the said movable contact member and the resistance element to which reference has hereinbefore been made;

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of the movable Contact member previously referred to;

Fig. 13 is a View in perspective of a member which is adapted to be actuated to control and vary the resistance to the iiow of an electric current;

Fig. la is a perspective view of a cam member for actuating the member shown in Fig. 13, which cam member is adapted to be manually operated; and

Fig. 15 is a view in longitudinal section of a fragment-ary portion of the device showing a modified construction.

Referring to the drawing: 1 designates the upper portion or half of a plug consisting of suitable insulating material, such as porcelain, and 2 the lower portion or half of the said' plug, likewise consisting of suitable insulating material. These two portions are connected together by means of a thinksheet metal band et cylindrical in cross section. The upper and lower edge portions of this band are extended inwardly as indicated so as to engage the outer edges of the upper and lower sides of enlarged portions G and T of the members 1 and 2. It will be understood that the binding and holding band Li is not placed in position Y until after the operative mechanism of the device. which is included within the plug consisting of the members 1 and 2, has been placed in position therein.

The enlarged portion 6 of the member 1 is provided with an enlarged opening, as indicated at 10, which communicates with an opening l1 of intermediate area or size, which in turn is in eonnnunication with au opening 12 of relatively small transverse area which extends through the upper or Vtendsthrough. an opening .in the upper respect tothe device.

outer end of the memberl of the plug. A contact sleeve 13 is situated within the opening 12 and is retained therein by the flared opposite end portions 14,' as show-n in Fig. 1 ot the drawings. The outer. end oi the ineinber 13 is adapted to contact with a contact member having connection with one'sideor one branch of a circuit when the plug is screwed into :a socket inthe usualimanner.

An adjusting bolt or rod v16 is situated within thelfmember'l of the plug structure in axial alinement with the opening through thesleeve 13. :The upper end' oi the adjusting rod or bar 1.6 extends intothe opening through the contact sleeve 18 and is held thereby in` aXial orcentral relation with Thelower end of the adjustingbolt or rod 16 is-in contact With -arcompression plate 17, and in order thatlthe saidI bolt or yrod. maybe retained in fixed relation, axially or centrally, with respect to the'plate 17. the saidbolt is providedwith asmalliprojection, as indicated at 18, which enters the small hole 19 in thersaid plate. The upper end of the adjusting bolt 16 eX- transversely extending end portion 2O of a stripor'barl whichfconstitutes a portion or-section of one branch ot'- an electric circuit through the device.

is situated between thelower or inner end` 'of the sleeve 13: and nut 22 which is in lscrew;threaded engagement with theupper The portion 20 screw threaded' endV portion oiV the adjustable bolt 16. Upon rotating the bolt V16 and atthe sainer time holding the nut 22 against rotation relative adjustment between the bolt and nut are effected. The said nut operates tohold the portion 20 of thestrip "'21 oil conducting materialin contact with the lower end of the sleeve 13.

Such adjustmentliirewise varies the pres sure ofthepressure plate 17y upon the upper side of the resistance element 25 situated within the enlarged opening or chamber 10 withinthe enlarged lower end portionl ot the part 1 of the plug. This resistance element comprises a mixture of powdered conducting and non-.conducting material, suchas graphite and mica. tions of these ingredients in the mixture m'ayrvary. I have found, however, that the mica may be employed in the proportions varyingfrom about, though not less than,

one-half part of mica to one -part'ot gra-V phiteto` about, though notniore than, three parts of mica to one of graphite.

A, washer 27 of sheet asbestos is-interposed between the pressure plate 17 andthe bottom ot `the enlarged portion 10V of the opening-withinv the portion 1.

fr cri-.operating pressure plate 30 isy situated on the lower side or the resistance element 25.Vwhich plate rests upon a washer 31 ci asbestos which in turn rests upon the projection 65 The propor-V upper side of an. annular memberot insulating material, the lower side of which is provided upon its inner edge portion adjacent a central opening therethrough with inclined portions 35, 36 and 37. The lower end ot' each of these inclined portions or surfacesv is separated from the adjacent end of the next succeeding' surface ey shoulders S8, 39 and 40.

The inciined portions 35, y36 and 37 vare previded with thinsheet metal` cover piates 11,412 and i3. The iirst two'ot` these plates, .41 and/12, are adapted to'be placed within theelectric circuit, but the third one, 43, is not. The purpose Vof providing the latter is to protect the body 32 ot insulating majterial 'trom wear due tothe rubbing thereover ot the contact spring 115 integral with disliflile plate sti which is rotatably supported upon the upwardly projecting cylindricalstud 50 which is supported upon the upper or inner end ot the Vmember Q which is hollow, as shownin Fig. 1.

The lower compression plate 30 is provided at intervals of 120O with downwardly extending legs or projections 60 adjacent its periphery, which legs extend downwardly through openings 61 in the member 372. Thelower ends of these legs are in Contact with the upper side of a ratchet-like cam ring 61a provided with three inclined portions 62. Thelower ends of these legs respectively Contact with the inclined portions 62. The lower end ot the uppersurtace ot each ot these portions 62 is separated from the raised or elevated end ot the next Vsucceeding vportion by a shoulder'or' odi-set @Las best shown perhaps in Fig. lei of the drawings. The annular ratchet-like cam 61a is provided with a radially extending which extends outwardly through horizontal slot 66 in the sheet nretal cylindrical member 4. A lump of insulating material 67 is mounted upon the cuter end of the projection 65. A plate 68, provided tor the purpose of covering and concealing the slot 66, is provided at its ,central portion with a socket-like projection 69 which iits over the lump 67 Voit insulating material. rhe portion 69 ot the plate 68V. which covers the insulating niaterial V67 constitutes a Vhandle by means ot which the annular cam member 61a may be adjusted Vor rotated either in a clockwise or in an anticloci\ vise direction. By rotating he annular calli member 61a in a clockwise direction the positions ot the inclined surfaces ot theportions (SZ-thereo are changed with respect 'to theV projections 60. rthe higher parts ot the surfaces of the said portions. `Contact with the lower ends ot the said projections so that they are 'elevated to cause corresponding elevation or" the compression' plate 8O' to ei'ect a compressive adV tion upon the resistance element previously referred to. Upon turning the said annular cam member in the opposite direction the compression plate is allowed to` descend so that the pressure exerted against the resistance element 25 is reduced. The descending movement of the plate 30 is due to the resilient action of the composition of the resistance element 25.

The area ot the adjustable plate 30 and of the portion of the resistance element 25 in contact therewith should not be less than the area ot' a plate of not less than one inch in diameter. It the area should be less, injurious arcing between the particles of the material of the resistance composition adjacent the adjustable plate 30 and between the particles or" the said composition and the plate is liable to take place.

The stationary contact plate 41 previously referred to is provided with a spring linger 7 0 which is in contact with the cam member 61a.

It will be noted that the member 32 previously referred to is situated between the opposing edge portions of the members 1 and 2 and is clamped between the same and also that it is held against lateral displacement by the surrounding cylindrical sheet metal member 4.

For the purpose of etfecting better electrical contact between the plate 47 and the stud 50 upon which said plate is rotatably mounted, I have provided the said plate with upwardly extending spring lingers 75 which hug and contact with the said stud, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The projection 46 is extending radially from the plate 47 is provided with a spring finger 76 in opposed relation to the spring contact 45. as shown. vfinger 76 is in contact with a rotatable plate 30 which rests upon the upper end of the member 2 and is held in axial relation with respect thereto by the stud 50 which extends upwardly through a central opening 81 in said plate. The. said plate is provided with projections 32 arranged at intervals ot 120 which projections are adapted to Contact with the end of the spring inger 76 upon rotation of the said plate 80. Rotation or partial rotation of the said plate 80 is etl'ected by means ot a pull or actuating chain S5 the outer end ot which extends outwardly through an opening 86 which extends tangentially with respect to the upper end portion of the member 2. The said member 2 is provided in its upper end portion adjacent its outer edge with a groove 87 within which the chain is situated. The inner end ot the chain is connected to one end ot a clip member S3 which is attached to a block S9 ot insulating material. The opposite end ot said clip is connected to the inner end ot a contractile spr'ag 90 the opposite or outer The spring j end of which is provided with an anchorage plate 91 which is secured within a slot or seat 92 in the upper end of the member 2 ot the plug. The spring 90 is normally in contracted position, as shown in Fig. 6. The block 80 ot insulating material is provided with an opening 93 in its top side with which is engaged a depending lug or projection 94 upon the contact actuating plate 80. Upon pulling the chain 85 the block S9 is caused to move in a clockwise direction (see Fig. 6) and such movemem stretches and tensions the spring 00. Such movement likewise causes a corresponding clockwise movement ot the plate 80. Such movement ot the latter plate causesv corresponding rotative movement ot' the contact member 45 by reason ot the contact of the end ot the spring linger 76 with the projections 82 which extend upwardly trom said plate. Upon release ot the chain 85 the spring 90 contracts so as to return the block 89 with the plate 80 in engagement therewith to normal position. Upon the operation ot the plate 80 it is turned through an angle or distance oi about 1200.

As the spring contact 45 is carried around by the action ot the plate 80 as just indicated it contacts successively with the metal plates 41. 42 ant which are seated upon the inclined portions 36 and 37 of the member 32. The plate 43 is insulated so that when the Contact spring 45 is in contact therewith the circuit is broken and no current is permitted to flow through the device. It, however, the chain is puller so as to slide the contact spring troni the plate 43 onto the plate 42 the circuit is completed through the conducting strip 21, the bent metal strip 100 with which the lower or inner end ot the latter is in contact, the plate 42 with which the said bent metal strip is integral. the spring contact 45 and arm or projection 46 to the stud 50. and from t-he latter to the contact 101 with which one end of the filament of a lamp is adapted to contact. The contact 101 is held in engagement with the lower reduced end portion ot the stud 50. which extends through an opening in the upper portion 51 ot the part 2, by a washer 101a which in turn is held in place by the up-set lower end 101b ot the said reduced portion, as shown. The opposite end ot the filament is in electrical connection with the bushing` 102 ot the socket in the member 2 of the plug7 which bushing is in contact with a contact strip 103 the upper end ot' which is in contact with the lower end of a contact strip 104` the lower portion ot which is mounted within a passageway through the enlarged lower end portion ot the part 1 ot the plug` while the upper portion thereot' is corrugated. as indicated at 105. and is seated within an elongated slot 106, within the reduced upper end portion of the part 1. The corrugated sleeve 108lis connected by soldering.` at 109 to the upper end ofthe strip 104;. IfI it is desired to dim the light the chain is again pulled so as to move the Contact member 115 from the plated-2 to the plate 41. `dv/Yhen such contact is made the circuit is completed' through the bolt orl rod 16,-the upper compression plate 17j the resistance element 25, the lower compression plate 30, the depending projections( G0,V the cam member 61a, the spring linger T0 which is in contact with the cam member and which is integral With the plate 41, and from thence to the spring contact. and thereafter the same as When the circuit is completed through the conducting strip 217 as above described. l

It Will be understood that when the cir-V cuit is completed through the resistance element 25 the resistance thereof may be varied andicontrolled by adjusting the cam member 61-a Which'operates through the projections to vary the pressure of the plate 30 against the said element and to thereby vary the compactness and density of the latter. By vincreasing the pressure of the plate 30 to thereby increase the-,density Aor compactness ofA the said elementV the resistance is decreased.

The chain S5 heretofore referred to and spring 90 are insulated from the plate 80 by means `of an-annular strip 115 of insulating material7 the said strip having a portion removed so that the opposite ends thereof are situated upon opposite sides of the block 89fof insulating material. A ring 110 of flat sheet insulating material. such'as mica, is located directly above the outer edge portion of the contact actuating plate 80 and is supported upon an annular shoulder' 11T uponfthe inner side of the upwardly'projecting flange-like portion at the upper or inner end of the pa-rt 2. is situated between the plate 80 and the cam member 61a and constitutes a support for the latter. p

It Will be seen that the parts 85 and 90, 80 and (i1a are properly insulated from each i other so as to insure proper operation of the member 1 with a projection 123 which exvtends through a rectangular shaped notch The flat ring 116.

124 in the outer edge of the member 32 and into a depression (not shown) in the'inner or upper edge of the part 2.

In the modification of the construction shown in Fig. 15I of the drawings I have providedv a plurality of resistance elements 130, =131 and 132`upon' the opposite sides of each of which are-compression plates constituting electrodes Which plates are designated`133'and 134', 135-and 136 and 137 and 138. 'Interposedf between the'compression plates or electrodes 13e and-135 and 136 and 131 are sections of insulating material 140, suchV as asbestos. As'in the construction shown in the preceding iiguresof the drawing the first or'originalf adjustment is effected" by adjusting'the screwv bolt'16.

The lowermost plate 138-iseprov-ided1with projections v(iOaxvh-eh correspondto and perform the same` function aslv the'pro'jelctions G0 previouslyre-ferredto.

rEhe plates 133; 135 and13? are connected Vin parallel'as also are the plates 13e7 136 rhave provided a device of simpleand unitary structure includingl simple and efiicient VVmeans for-varying the compression of the resistance elementY or elements to thereby vary the resistance thereof Vto the fiow of an electric current therethrough.` It Will also be seen that I have provided' a construction embodying a simple and 'novel means for-effectingrotationof a rotatable contact-member to thereby either disrupt or breah the circuit entirely or change the path through which an electric current is permitted to flow. f

Having thus described my invention. what I cla/im anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In, an electric light dimming device, the combination of an electric circuit including tivo branches, one of Which comprises variable resistanceimeansfan adjustable compression memberupon one side of said resistance means, a cam actuating member ymovable in either `of two directions about the longitudinal axis of the said device, and means interposed between the compression member and said cam actuating member whereby movement of said actuating member causes or permits` movement 'of said eon'ipression member.

2. In an electric'light dimming device.

the combination of a circuit comprising a branch including a resistance element, compression members upon opposite sides of said element, an oscillatable member having inclined cam acting surfaces thereon, and means interposed between one of said com pression members and the said cam acting surfaces whereby upon movement of the said oscillatable member movement of the said last. mentioned compression member is effected.

3. In an electric light dimming device, the combination of an electric circuit comprising a variable resistance element therein, compression plates upon opposite sides of said element, one of which is stationary and the other one of which is movable toward and from the said element, the said last mentioned plate being provided with projections which extend away from the said element, and an annular member rotatable in either direction and having inclined cam acting surfaces with which the ends of the said projections are in contact whereby upon rotary movement of the said member movement of the said movable compression plate is effected. i

4. In an electric light dimming device, the combination of a two-part plug casing, a member of insulating material internlediate said parts, the under side of said member being provided with inclined portions separated trom each other by shoulders, two ot the said inclined portions being provided with metal contact plates, means for securing together the two parts of the said plug casing, an electric circuit comprising two branches, one of which includes a variable resist-ance element, compression plates upon opposite sides of said element, one of which is movable for varying the compression of the said element, said last mentioned plate being provided with projections which extend away from said element, a ring-shaped member which is partially rotatable in either direction about its axis, said member being` provided with inclined cam acting portions with which the said projections are in contact, means whereby the said last mentioned member is electrically connected with one of the contact plates upon the said member of insulating material, a rotatable contact member, and means for causing rotation thereof to cause the same to contact successively with the metal contact plates upon the said member of insulating matei rial.

5. In an electric light dimming device, the combination ot a circuit having a branch includinOu a compressible resistance element, electrodes on opposite sides of the said element, and means whereby either of said electrodes may be adjusted independently ot the other.

G. In an electric light dimming device, the combination otl an electric circuit including two branches extending through said device., one of said branches comprising a variable resistance element, and independently adj ustable means upon opposite sides thereoi whereby variation of the resistance may be eitected.

7. In an electric light dimming device, the combination of a circ-uit including a plurality ot branches one of which comprises one or more variable resistance elements, electrodes on opposite sides of said elements, means for adjusting one of said electrodes into permanent position, and means for independently adjusting another of said electrodes at will for the purpose ot varying the resistance offered by the said element or elements.

8. In an electric light dimming device, the combination of a circuit including a plurality of branches within said device, one of said branches comprising a resistance elementY ot co-mpressible material, electrodes on opposite sides of said material, and means 'for independently adjusting said electrodes.

9. In an electric light dimming device, the combination ot an electric circuit comprisv ing a variable resistance element consisting of a body of powdered material, compres sion plates upon opposite sides of said element. and means for adjusting one of said plates at will to vary the pressure ot the same against the said element. the area oi said adjustable plate being not less than the area ot a circular plate not less than one inch in diameter.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention,` I have hereunto signed my name this 23d. day of April, A. 11,1923,

ANTHONY PAPINI. 

